Police clash with students outside US embassy in Islamabad

Pakistani students protesting an anti-Islam film have clashed with police outside the US embassy in the capital Islamabad, Press TV reports.
The angry students held an anti-US demonstration on Thursday, protesting the US-made blasphemous film that insults Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).
This comes as the government has declared September 21, a national holiday in honor of Prophet Mohammed (Peace be upon him) and called for peaceful protests against the insulting film.
The government's sudden announcement came after religious parties called for a day of protest on Friday to denounce the film.
Religious parties have called on Pakistanis to shut down their shops and businesses on Friday in a general strike against the movie.
On Wednesday about 500 angry lawyers protesting against the controversial film gained entrance to an area housing the US and other foreign embassies in Islamabad.
Outrage and anti-US sentiment is growing across the world over the insulting movie, with protests being held in tens of countries.
Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh have blocked access to the video-sharing website YouTube after deadly protests linked to the movie trailer.
Demonstrations are expected to intensify in the coming days after a French magazine published insulting cartoons of Prophet Muhammad, Islam’s holiest figure, on Wednesday.
The French Muslim Council (CFCM), the main Islamic body in France, on Wednesday accused satirical Parisian weekly Charlie Hebdo of firing up anti-Muslim sentiment at the sensitive time.
MSH/JR/IS